Swing having foldable leg unit

ABSTRACT

A swing includes a swing frame and a swing chair assembly. The swing frame includes left and right leg units, and a top horizontal bar connected between the left and right leg units. Each of the left and right leg units includes a front leg member having a top end connected to the top horizontal bar, and a rear leg member having a top end connected pivotally to the front leg member below the top horizontal bar. The front and rear leg members respectively have bottom ends which are movable toward or away from each other to place the left and/or right leg units in a folded position or an unfolded position. The swing chair assembly is hung movably on the top horizontal bar.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a swing, more particularly to a swing that may be easily assembled and disassembled.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional swing comprises a swing frame 1, and a swing chair assembly 2. The swing frame 1 includes left and right leg units 11 mounted on the ground, and a top supporting frame 12 connected between the left and right leg units 11. Each of the leg units 11 is substantially A-shaped, and includes front and rear leg rods 111, and two spaced-apart connecting rods 112 welded between the front and rear leg rods 111. The top supporting frame 12 includes two side rods 121, a cross rod 122, and two slanting rods 123. Each of the side rods 121 is screwed between top ends of the front and rear leg rods 111 of a respective one of the left and right leg units 11. The cross rod 122 has two opposite ends welded respectively to the side rods 121. Each of the slanting rods 123 has two opposite ends welded respectively to the cross rod 122 and the corresponding one of the side rods 121.

The swing chair assembly 2 is hung on the slanting rods 123 of the top supporting frame 12. The conventional swing further comprises a canopy assembly 3 mounted on the swing frame 1 for providing protection from sunlight and rain.

The aforementioned swing frame 1 is assembled by welding the side rods 121, the cross rod 122, and the slanting rods 123 together so as to form the top supporting frame 12, and by welding the connecting rods 112 to the front and rear leg rods 111 of the respective leg units 11 so as to form the left and right leg units 11, after which the top supporting frame 12 is screwed to the left and right leg units 11 to extend therebetween. Since such assembly involves separate welding and screwing processes, assembly of the conventional swing is complicated and slow. Further, since the swing frame 1 has a generally inverted U-shaped configuration, and since the front and rear leg rods 111 of each of the left and right leg units 11 are not configured to be foldable, the conventional swing occupies a substantial space during storage and transport. Because of the fixed structure of the left and right leg units 11 of the swing frame 1, even if the top supporting frame 12 is detached from the left and right leg units 11, the conventional swing still occupies a substantial space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a swing that may be easily assembled and disassembled so as to facilitate storage and use of the same.

According to this invention, a swing comprises a swing frame and a swing chair assembly. The swing frame includes left and right leg units, and a top horizontal bar connected between the left and right leg units. Each of the left and right leg units includes a front leg member having a top end connected to the top horizontal bar, and a rear leg member having a top end connected pivotally to the front leg member below the top horizontal bar. The front and rear leg members respectively have bottom ends which are movable toward or away from each other to place the left and/or right leg units in a folded position or an unfolded position. The swing chair assembly is hung movably on the top horizontal bar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional swing;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a swing according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating a leg frame in an unfolded position;

FIG. 3A is a sectional view of a link member of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a reinforcing bar of the preferred embodiment in an extended position;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating how a horizontal cross bar is attached to a leg member;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but illustrating the leg frame in a folded position; and

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but illustrating the reinforcing bar in a retracted position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 7, the preferred embodiment of a swing according to the present invention is shown to comprise a swing frame 2 and a swing chair assembly 3.

The swing frame 2 includes left and right leg units 5 adapted to be mounted on the ground, a top horizontal bar 6, and two connecting units 7. Each of the left and right leg units 5 is substantially A-shaped, and includes a front leg member 51, a rear leg member 52, and a reinforcing bar 53. The front leg member 51 is curved, has a top end connected to the top horizontal bar 6, and includes a link member 512 that has a top end 5121 fixed rigidly to the front leg member 51 proximate to the top end of the front leg member 51 and that is inclined rearwardly and downwardly with respect to the front leg member 51. The link member 512 and the front leg member 51 form an acute angle therebetween. The link member 512, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 3A, has a U-shaped cross section, and further has a bottom end 5122 extending away from the front leg member 51, a rear closed end 5123 extending upwardly from the bottom end 5122 of the link member 512, a rear cutout 5125 formed above the rear closed end 5123 and extending from the rear closed end 5123 to the top end 5121 of the link member 512, and a front open end 5124 that extends from the top to bottom ends 5121, 5122 of the link member 512.

The rear leg member 52 is curved, and has a top end connected pivotally to the link member 512 between the top and bottom ends 5121, 5122 of the link member 512 so that the link member 512 embraces partially the top end of the rear leg member 52. The front and rear leg members 51, 52 respectively have bottom ends which are movable toward or away from each other so as to place the left and/or right leg units 5 in a folded position (see FIG. 6) or an unfolded position (see FIG. 3). The top end of the rear leg member 52 abuts against the rear closed end 5123 of the link member 512 when the rear leg member 52 pivots away from the front leg member 51 to thereby limit the rearward pivoting movement of the rear leg member 52. The front open end 5124 of the link member 512 permits the rear leg member 52 to pivot toward the front leg member 51. Since the link member 512 is used to limit the rearward pivoting movement of the rear leg member 52, it may be configured in other structures.

The reinforcing bar 53, in this embodiment, is telescopic, and is disposed between the front and rear leg members 51, 52. The reinforcing bar 53 includes an outer tube 531, an inner rod 532, and a resilient retaining unit 533. The outer tube 531 has a locking hole 534 formed proximate to a front end thereof, and a rear end connected pivotally to a front side of the rear leg member 52. The inner rod 532 has a front end connected pivotally to a rear side of the front leg member 51, is inserted telescopically into the outer tube 531, and has a through hole 535. Alternatively, the positions of the outer tube 531 and the inner rod 532 may be interchanged, that is, the outer tube 531 may be connected pivotally to the front leg member 51, and the inner rod 532 may be connected pivotally to the rear leg member 52. The resilient retaining unit 533 is disposed within the inner rod 532, and includes a substantially V-shaped bent spring plate 537, and a stud 536 connected to the spring plate 537. The stud 536 extends out of the inner rod 532 through the through hole 535 to engage the locking hole 534 and thereby restrict movement of the outer tube 531 relative to the inner rod 532. The structure of the retaining unit 533 is not limited to the disclosed embodiment.

The front leg member 51 further has a front strap 511 near the bottom end thereof and that projects rearwardly from the rear side thereof. The front end of the inner rod 532 is pivoted to the front strap 511. The rear leg member 52 further has a rear strap 521 projecting forwardly from the front side thereof. The rear end of the outer tube 531 is pivoted to the rear strap 521. In this embodiment, the rear end of the outer tube 531 is higher than the front end of the inner rod 532.

The top horizontal bar 6 is connected between the top ends of the left and right leg units 5, and has left and right rings 61 sleeved thereon.

The connecting units 7 are attached respectively to two opposite ends of the top horizontal bar 6 for connecting detachably and respectively the front leg members 51 of the left and right leg units 5 to the top horizontal bar 6. Since the structure of each connecting unit 7 is not pertinent to the present invention, a detailed description of the same will be dispensed herewith for the sake of brevity.

The swing chair assembly 3 is hung movably on the top horizontal bar 6, and includes left and right hanging frames 31 hooked respectively to the left and right rings 61 of the top horizontal bar 6, front and rear link bars 32, and two swing chairs 33. Each of the front and rear link bars 32 has two opposite ends hooked respectively to bottom ends of the left and right hanging frames 31. The swing chairs 33 are connected between the front and rear link bars 32. Since the structure of the swing chair assembly 3 is not pertinent to the present invention, a detailed description of the same will be dispensed herewith for the sake of brevity.

The swing of the present invention further comprises a top cover frame 4 mounted foldably and detachably on top of the swing frame 2. Since the structure of the top cover frame 4 is not pertinent to the present invention, a detailed description of the same will be dispensed herewith for the sake of brevity.

To further stabilize the structure of the swing frame 2 of the present invention, a horizontal cross bar 8 (see FIGS. 2 and 5) may be connected detachably between lower side portions of the rear leg members 52 of the left and right leg units 5 below the rear straps 521. Since the connection between the cross bar 8 and the rear leg member 52 of each of the left and right leg units 5 is similar, only the connection between the cross bar 8 and the rear leg member 52 of the right leg unit 5 will be described hereinafter. The rear leg member 52 includes a positioning piece 523 below the rear strap 521 and having an insert hole 522. The cross bar 8 has one end provided with an insert portion 82 inserted into the insert hole 522. A positioning pin 83 is passed through the insert hole 522 and the insert portion 82 so as to secure one end of the cross bar 8 to the rear leg member 52 of the right leg unit 5.

During assembly of the swing of the present invention, the rear leg members 52 of the left and right leg units 5 are first pivoted to the link members 512 of the front leg members 51 of the left and right leg units 5, after which the reinforcing bars 53 are pivoted between the front and rear straps 511, 521 of the front and rear leg members 51, 52 of the respective left and right leg units 5. Next, the top horizontal bar 6 is connected between the front leg members 51 of the left and right leg units 5 through the connecting units 7, and the horizontal cross bar 8 is connected between the lower side portions of the rear leg members 52 of the left and right leg units 5 through connection of the insert portions 82 of the cross bar 8 to the positioning pieces 523 of the rear leg members 52 of the respective left and right leg units 5, thereby forming the swing frame 2. Finally, the swing chair assembly 3 and the top cover frame 4 are connected to the swing frame 2, thereby completing the assembly of the swing of the present invention in an easy and quick manner.

It should be noted that each of the left and right leg units 5 of the swing frame 2 of the present invention is configured to pivot between the unfolded position, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, and the folded position, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. In the unfolded position, the outer tube 531 and the inner rod 532 of the reinforcing bar 53 are pulled apart from each other until the stud 536 in the inner rod 532 extends through the through hole 535, and engages the locking hole 534 in the outer tube 531, thereby restricting movement of the outer tube 531 relative to the inner rod 532. In this state, the reinforcing bar 53 is in an extended position, and the rear leg member 52 is pivoted away from the front leg member 51. In the folded position, the stud 536 is pressed inwardly so as to release engagement between the stud 536 and the locking hole 534 so that the reinforcing bar 53 can be retracted. Retraction of the reinforcing bar 53 is accompanied by the simultaneous folding of the same and pivoting of the rear leg member 52 toward the front leg member 51.

When transporting or storing of the swing of the present invention is desired, the swing chair assembly 3 is first detached from the top horizontal bar 6, after which the top cover frame 4 is turned about the top horizontal bar 6 so as to be folded toward the swing frame 2. The left and right leg units 5 are then folded, thereby reducing the volume of the swing of the present invention so as to facilitate its transport or storage. The top cover frame 4, the top horizontal bar 6, and the horizontal cross bar 8 can be further detached from the left and right leg units 5 so as to further reduce the volume of the swing of the present invention.

From the aforementioned description, the swing of the present invention employs pivot and pin connections to interconnect the left and right leg units 5, the top horizontal bar 6, and the horizontal cross bar 8 to form the swing frame 2, so that assembly of the swing is easy and quick. Further, each of the left and right leg units 5 is configured to pivot between folded and unfolded positions, so that the volume of the swing of the present invention can be reduced, thereby facilitating its transport and storage.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

1. A swing comprising: a swing frame including left and right leg units, and a top horizontal bar connected between said left and right leg units, each of said left and right leg units including a front leg member having a top end connected to said top horizontal bar, and a rear leg member having a top end connected pivotally to said front leg member below said top horizontal bar, said front and rear leg members respectively having bottom ends which are movable toward or away from each other to place said left and/or right leg units in a folded position or an unfolded position; and a swing chair assembly hung movably on said top horizontal bar.
 2. The swing as claimed in claim 1, wherein said front leg member includes a link member that has a top end fixed rigidly to said front leg member below said top horizontal bar and that is inclined rearwardly and downwardly with respect to said front leg member, said link member further having a bottom end extending away from said front leg member, said top end of said rear leg member being connected pivotally to said link member between said top and bottom ends of said link member.
 3. The swing as claimed in claim 2, wherein said link member has a U-shaped cross section, and embraces partially said top end of said rear leg member, said link member including a rear closed end to abut against said top end of said rear leg member when said rear leg member moves away from said front leg member, a rear cutout formed above said rear closed end, and a front open end that extends from said top to bottom ends of said link member to permit said rear leg member to pivot toward said front leg member, said rear closed end extending upwardly from said bottom end of said link member, said rear cutout extending from said rear closed end to said top end of said link member.
 4. The swing as claimed in claim 1, wherein said swing frame further includes a reinforcing bar disposed between said front and rear leg members, said reinforcing bar having a front end pivoted to said front leg member near said bottom end of said front leg member, and a rear end pivoted to said rear leg member, said rear end of said reinforcing bar being higher than said front end.
 5. The swing as claimed in claim 4, wherein said front leg member further has a front strap that projects rearwardly, said rear leg member further having a rear strap projecting forwardly, said front and rear ends of said reinforcing bar being respectively pivoted to said front and rear straps.
 6. The swing as claimed in claim 4, wherein said reinforcing bar is telescopic.
 7. The swing as claimed in claim 6, wherein said reinforcing bar includes an outer tube having a locking hole, an inner rod inserted telescopically into said outer tube, and a resilient retaining unit extendable out of said inner rod to engage said locking hole.
 8. The swing as claimed in claim 1, wherein said swing frame further includes a horizontal cross bar connected between said rear leg members of said left and right leg units below said rear straps of said rear leg members.
 9. The swing as claimed in claim 8, wherein said rear leg members have positioning pieces below said rear straps of said rear leg members, said horizontal cross bar having two insert portions provided respectively on two opposite ends thereof and engaged respectively to said positioning pieces.
 10. The swing as claimed in claim 1, wherein said front and rear leg members are curved. 